Full axle shear rubber spring suspension for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A full or through axle supported by rubber tired wheels has each end connected through a bearing to one end of a link extending lengthwise of the line of travel. The opposite link end is connected through another bearing to the frame. Each such bearing is constructed, as by inclusion of a flexible rubber bushing, to permit oscillation of the parts connected thereby about its center. Axial movement of the axle laterally of the line of travel is inhibited by rectilinear upright movement shear rubber bodies between the links and frame, these bodies being mounted for this purpose so that their faces fixed, respectively, to their links and the frame, are generally parallel with the line of travel and are upright. These bodies have the added function of providing the resilient support for the frame on the links.

United States Patent Hickman Sept. 19, 1972 [72] Inventor: Albert E.Hickman, Eden, NY.

[73] Assignee: Hickman Developments, lnc., Eden,

22 Filed: April 13, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 133,564

[52] US. Cl. ..280/l24 R, 267/63'A [51] Int. Cl. ..B60g 11/24 [58] Fieldof Search ..267/2l A, 57.1 A, 63, 63 A;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,528,680 9/ i970 Nelson..280/ 124 R Primary Examiner-Philip Goodman Attorney-Harold I. Popp[57] ABSTRACT A full or through axle supported by rubber tired wheelshas each end connected through a bearing to one end of a link extendinglengthwise of the line of travel. The opposite link end is connectedthrough another bearing to the frame. Each such bearing is constructed,as by inclusion of a flexible rubber bushing, to permit oscillation ofthe partsconnected thereby about its center. Axial movement of the axlelaterally of the line of travel is inhibited by rectilinear uprightmovement shear rubber bodies between the links and frame, these bodiesbeing mounted for this purpose so that their faces fixed, respectively,to'their links and the frame, are generally parallel with the line oftravel and are upright. These bodies have the added function ofproviding the resilient support for the frame on the links.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED SEP 19 I972 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR.Qzzwerfmwg' BY 0%.; I.

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FULL AXLE SHEAR RUBBER SPRING SUSPENSION FOR VEHICLES An object of theinvention is to provide a full or through axle suspension which is lowin cost and at the same time provides adaquate resilient support for theframe with either wheel capable of vertical movement relative to theother wheel.

Another object is to provide a suspension which is free from frictionand will not require repairs, barring accident, for the life of thevehicle.

Another object is to provide a simple and inexpensive suspension inwhich axial axle movement laterally of the frame is adaquatelycontrolled by a simple means which also provides substantially theentire resilient support for the frame on the wheels.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a vehicle frame supported at each side by aspring suspension embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken generally online 3-3, FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sections taken on the correspondinglynumbered lines, FIG. 3.

The frame can be of any suitable construction and is shown as a trailerframe 10 comprising a pair of main longitudinal horizontal side beams 11connected by cross bars 12, and as having a tongue 13 projectingforwardly from the center of the front cross bar 12 and reinforced bydiagonal frame bars 14. Any suitable means 15 can be provided at thefront end of the tongue for attaching to the rear of the towing vehicle(not shown).

The entire vehicle frame, together with the present spring suspension,is constructed substantially symmetrically about a vertical longitudinalmedial plane.

The vehicle frame is supported by a single continuous axle beam 16extending across and under the frame 10 and the opposite ends of whichproject outwardly from the opposite sides of the frame. This full orthrough axle is preferably made of a cylindrical tube and each endthereof so projecting from the side of the vehicle frame 10 is rotatablysupported by a rubber tired road engaging wheel 18. These wheels areshown as being braked by a brake mechanism (not shown) within aconventional brake drum 19 associated with each wheel.

Each axle end is connected by an axle bearing 20 to the rear end of alink 21 which can be of any suitable form but is shown as being in theform of a tube which is square or rectangular in cross section andarranged under the corresponding main longitudinal side frame beam 10.The opposite or forward end of each am 21 is connected by an identicalbearing 20a to a horizontal metal sleeve 22, the opposite ends of whichare welded to the opposing faces of vertical plates 23 welded at theirupper ends to the outside and inside upright flanges 24, 25 of anL-shaped frame bracket 26 which is preferably removably secured, as bybolts (not shown) to the outer vertical face and bottom of each mainlongitudinal side frame beam 11. The inside upright flange 25 is shownas only being coextensive with the inner plate 23 welded thereto,whereas the outside flange 24 is coextensive with the frame bracket 26which extends, with reference to the line of vehicle travel, from inadvance of the plates 23 to above the full or through axle beam 16. Thesleeves 22, and hence the bearings 22a, on opposite sides of the frameare preferably horizontaly axially in line with each other transverselyof this line of vehicle travel.

These axle and frame bearings 20, 20a are preferably identical, eachhaving a semicylindrical half bearing metal shell 28, 28a welded at itscenter to the corresponding end of the arm 21"and embracing a flexiblerubber bushing 29, 29a, in turn embracing'the corresponding end of thetubular axle. l6 andsleeve 22, respectively. Each metal half bearingshell has radially projecting end flanges 30, 30asecured by bolts 31,31a to similar flanges 32', 32a of a companion metal half bearing shell33, 33a. The bolts 31 are tightened to draw the metal half bearingshells 28, 33 together and force the rubber bushings 29 intocompressiverelation with the tubular axle 16, the endwise displacement of therubber bushings 29 being limited by a pair of spaced abutment rings 34welded to project radially from each end of the tubular axle 16 onopposite sides of and in spaced relation to the half bearing shells 28,33, as best shown in FIG. 6. Similarly the bolts 310 are tightened todraw the metal half bearing shells 28a, 33a together and force therubber bushings 29a into compressive relation with the sleeves 22, theendwise displacement of the rubber bushings 290 being limited by theplates 23 which are in spaced relation to the half bearing shells 28a,33a, as best shown in FIG. 5. g

The rubber bushings 29, 29a of the four bearings 20, 20a must be thickenough to not only permit vertical movement of the rear or free ends orthe arms 22 but also to permit the free end of one of these arms to risewhile the other falls, asin traveling over a road having a bump engagedby one wheel 18 and a depression encountered by the other wheel.Bearings with rubber bushings of such thickness would also permitparallelogram movement of the axle 16, links 21 and frame 10, that is amovement of the axle 16, axially transversely of the line of vehicletravel.- On the other hand, these rubber bushed bearings permit only avery slight movement of the movable suspension parts, that is, thewheels 18, axle 16, links 21 and sleeves 22 lengthwise of the line ofvehicle travel. It will be apparent that such response would also beobtained by ordinary ball-andsocket bearings in lieu of the rubberbushed bearings 20, 20a.

The feature of the present invention resides in the use of rectilinearupright movement shear rubber springs for the dual purpose of providingsubstantially the entire resilient support for the frame 10 on thewheels 18 and also restraining such movement of the axle l6 transverselyof the line of vehicle travel. To this end the rectilinear uprightmovement shear rubber spring means of the present invention arepreferably constructed as follows:

The numeral 35 represents an inverted U-shaped frame bracket having anupper cross part 36 welded to the underside of each frame bracket 26 inposition to have its depending side legs 38 straddle the central portionof the corresponding lever 21 in spaced relation thereto. The lower endsof each pair of side legs 38 are prevented from spreading apart inservice by a U- shaped bottom plate 39 the upright side legs of whichare fitted against the remote upright faces of the side legs 38 of eachframe bracket 35, the upright legs 40 being secured to the dependinglegs 38 by bolts 41. Four rectilinear upright movement shear rubbersprings 45 are severally interposed between the opposing faces of thedepending legs 38 and the correspondthe frame bracket depending sidelegs 38. Each rubber body 'hasanother upright rectangular working face51 parallel with and on the opposite side of each rubber body 46 fromits working face 48, each working face 51 being bonded, as byvulcanization, to a rectangular metal plate 52 secured by corner bolts53 to plates 54 welded to the opposite sides of the corresponding arm21.

' OPERATION The forward direction of vehicle travel is shown by thelarge arrows above the right of FIGS. 1 and 2, and inthe operation ofthe suspension, when one wheel encounters abump in the road, it risesrelative to the vehicleframe 10. Such movement is permitted by its link21 flexing the rubber bushing 24 in which the corresponding end of theaxle 16 is journalled, and also flexing the rubber bushing 24a in whichthe corresponding frame pivot pin 22 is joumalled. This pin is rigidlysecured to, and hence is in effect an integral part of, the vehicleframe 10. With such movement of one wheel, one end of the through axlel6 rises relative to is other end, this being permitted by the flexingof the four rubber bushings 29, 29a of the bearings 20, 20a. With therubber bushings 29, 29a thick enough to flex and permit such wheelmovement relative to the frame, they would also permit a parallelogrammovement of the axle 16, links 21 and vehicle frame 10, this resultingin excessive axial movement of the axle 16 laterally of the line ofvehicle travel.

Such excessive lateral movement of the axle 16 is prevented by therectilinear movement shear rubber bodies 46 flanking the links 21because their upright working faces 48, 51 are arranged parallel withthe line of vehicle travel and hence compressively resist movement ofthe links 21 (and therefore the axle l6) transv'ersely of the line oftravel. In other words, referring to FIG. 4, the resistance of the shearrubber bodies 46 to compression in a horizontal direction transverselyof the line of vehicle travel is very high to restrain such lateral axlemovement since these rubber bodies are rectilinear movement shear rubberbodies. These rubber bodies 46 serve two important functions, namely, toso prevent excessive axial movement of the axle l6 laterally of the lineof vehicle travel and also to resiliently support the vehicle frame onthe links.

in this last function, the assumed upward movement of one (or both)wheels and their links 21 about the frame bearing 20a as a fulcrum istransmitted to the corresponding pair of inner center plates 52 of therectilinear upright movement shear rubber bodies 46.

In their unloaded or undistorted condition, these rubber bodies are inthe parallelogram form shown in FIGQ 4. With the vehicle loaded, thesebodies are distorted so that their working faces 48, 5 land plates 49,52 are generally in line with one another. With either wheel 18 of theloaded moving vehicle striking a bump in the road, these rubber bodies46 are further distorted toward a parallelogram condition reverse tothat shown in FIG. 4 and with their inner center plates 52 rising abovetheir outer plates 49. Such upward movement of each pair of inner centerplates 52 is transmitted through the corresponding pair of rubber bodies46, outer plates 49, inverted U-shaped bracket 35 and L-fshaped framebracket 26 to the corresponding main longitudinal side frame beam 11towhich the frame bracket 26 is preferably removably secured in anysuitable manner. I

In the following claims by rubber is meant an elastomer such as naturalor'synthetic rubber or mixtures thereof, and by wheel is meant theground engaging means 18 supporting the stubaxleswhetherin 1. A vehiclespring suspension adapted to be interposed between a vehicle frame andasingle continuous axle beam extending across and the opposite ends ofwhich project outwardly from opposite sides of said frame, and aresupported by rubber tired wheels; wherein the improvement comprises alink interposed between each of said axle beam ends and said frame andextending generally lengthwise of the lineof travel of the vehicle,first bearing means severally connecting the adjacent ends of. saidlinks tolthe companionaxle beam ends, second bearing means severallyconnecting the other ends of said links to said frame on a common axisextending transversely of said line of travel, each of said bearingmeans permitting oscillation of the parts connected thereby about thecenter thereof in. all directions with said first bearing meansinhibiting movement of said axle beam lengthwise of said links and withsaid second bearing means inhibiting movement of the companion ends ofsaid links lengthwise of said line of travel whereby said first andsecond bearing means permit vertical movement of each axle beam endrelative to the vehicle frame and relative to the opposite axle beam endand would also permit axial movement of the axle beam laterally of saidline of travel, and means resiliently supporting said frame on saidlinks and also restricting said last mentioned axial movement of theaxle beam without preventing such vertical movement of each axle beamend relative to said frame and relative to the opposite axle beam end,comprising a flexible upright rectilinear movement shear rubber bodyinterposed between each side of the vehicle frame and the correspondinglink and having opposite upright faces arranged generally parallel withsaid line of travel, a first plate fast to one of said upright faces,frame bracket means securing said first plate to the corresponding sideof said vehicle frame, a second plate fast to the other of said uprightfaces, and bracket means securing said second plate to the correspondinglink whereby vertical movement of one end of said single continuous axlebeam relative to its other end effects a correspondingly differentoscillation of each of its first and second bearing means about saidcenters thereof and also effects a corresponding greater upwarddistortion in shear of the shear rubber body on one side of the frame ascompared with the shear rubber body on the other side of the frame, andwhereby at least one of said shear rubber bodies compressively resistssuch axial movement of the axle beam laterally of said line of travel.

2. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim 1 having a pair ofsuch upright rectilinear movement shear rubber bodies, with their firstand second plates, at each side of the vehicle frame, the first plate ofeach body being so secured to the corresponding side of the vehicleframe and the second plate of each body being so secured to thecorresponding link.

3. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim 2 wherein theupright rectilinear movement shear rubber bodies of each pair arearranged on opposite sides of their link and are secured to suchopposite sides.

4. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim 3 wherein saidframe bracket means securing each of said first plates to thecorresponding side of the vehicle frame includes an inverted U-shapedbracket, the depending legs of which straddle the companion link.

5. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim 4 additionallyhaving removable means connecting together the lower ends of saiddepending legs to hold them against spreading.

6. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid first and second bearing means includes a flexible rubber sleevewhich is twisted to provide such oscillation in all directions of theparts connected thereby.

1. A vehicle spring suspension adapted to be interposed between avehicle frame and a single continuous axle beam extending across and theopposite ends of which project outwardly from opposite sides of saidframe, and are supported by rubber tired wheels; wherein the improvementcomprises a link interposed between each of said axle beam ends and saidframe and extending generally lengthwise of the line of travel of thevehicle, first bearing means severally connecting the adjacent ends ofsaid links to the companion axle beam ends, second bearing meansseverally connecting the other ends of said links to said frame on acommon axis extending transversely of said line of travel, each of saidbearing means permitting oscillation of the parts connected therebyabout the center thereof in all directions with said first bearing meansinhibiting movement of said axle beam lengthwise of said links and withsaid second bearing means inhibiting movement of the companion ends ofsaid links lengthwise of said line of travel whereby said first andsecond bearing means permit vertical movement of each axle beam endrelative to the vehicle frame and relative to the opposite axle beam endand would also permit axial movement of the axle beam laterally of saidline of travel, and means resiliently supporting said frame on saidlinks and also restricting said last mentioned axial movement of theaxle beam without preventing such vertical movement of each axle beamend relative to said frame and relative to the opposite axle beam end,comprising a flexible upright rectilinear movement shear rubber bodyinterposed between each side of the vehicle frame and the correspondinglink and having opposite upright faces arranged generally parallel withsaid line of travel, a first plate fast to one of said upright faces,frame bracket means securing said first plate to the corresponding sideof said vehicle frame, a second plate fast to the other of said uprightfaces, and bracket means securing said second plate to the correspondinglink whereby vertical movement of one end of said single continuous axlebeam relative to its other end effects a correspondingly differentoscillation of each of its first and second bearing means about saidcenters thereof and also effects a corresponding greater upwarddistortion in shear of the shear rubber body on one side of the frame ascompared with the shear rubber body on the other side of the frame, andwhereby at least one of said shear rubber bodies compressively resistssuch axial movement of the axle beam laterally of said line of travel.2. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim 1 having a pair ofsuch upright rectilinear movement shear rubber bodies, with their firstand second plates, at each side of the vehicle frame, the first plate ofeach body being so secured to the corresponding side of the vehicleframe and the second plate of each body being so secured to thecorresponding link.
 3. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim2 wherein the upright rectilinear movement shear rubber bodies of eachpair are arranged on opposite sides of their link and are secured tosuch opposite sides.
 4. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth inclaim 3 wherein said frame bracket means securing each of said firstplates to the corresponding side of the vehicle frame includes aninverted U-shaped bracket, the depending legs of which straddle thecompanion link.
 5. A vehicle spring suspension as set forth in claim 4additionally having removable means connecting together the lower endsof said depending legs to hold them against spreading.
 6. A vehiclespring suSpension as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first andsecond bearing means includes a flexible rubber sleeve which is twistedto provide such oscillation in all directions of the parts connectedthereby.